The Prime Minister's refusing to rule out privatising the embattled KiwiRail or carving off Interislander.
It comes after revelations of eye-watering contractor spending by the state-owned enterprise which Newshub understands topped $8 million.
From train pain to ferries, KiwiRail has had its KiwiFails, and the Prime Minister isn't ruling out setting the state asset adrift.
"Are you at all open to the idea of privatising KiwiRail?" Luxon was asked.
"What I'm really focused on is making sure KiwiRail becomes a very high-performing organisation," Luxon replied.
That's not what Luxon promised on the campaign.
"No, asset sales are not something we're focused on and not interested in," Luxon said during the campaign
"We've said asset sales is not a focus of this Government," Luxon said on Tuesday.
Not a focus is not a rule out.
Coalition partner ACT wants KiwiRail retailed.
"There's a serious question about whether should the government own a ferry company or a train company or put more of its capital into schools and hospitals or roads that we desperately need," Seymour said.
"I don't see any programme and policy ever announced in this point in time in the Cabinet in our policy discussion about privatisation," NZ First leader Winston Peters said.
Ministers also wouldn't be drawn on the possibility of taking Interislander off KiwiRail.
"We've got no current plans to do that - we're working through the whole question of how you replace the ferries and we're starting that discussion… anything is possible," National Minister Paul Goldsmith said.
"There's advice coming, no decisions have been made. Thank you," Transport Minister Simeon Brown said.
In the wake of the Aratere's grounding, the Government is refusing to say whether the penalty fees for breaking the old contract are more than the estimated $551 million for two new ferries.
"They are commercial conversations. It's important that they're handled by commercial organisations to negotiate those contracts," Luxon said.
"It's a much better deal, including being cheaper," Finance Minister Nicola Willis said.
KiwiRail itself is also coming under fire for recently hiring global management consultants McKinsey and Company to do a strategic review.
Newshub understands that spend was to the tune of $8 million.
Willis said she was told she isn't allowed to disclose that figure.
"But the figure was astounding to me, it was too much, and I expressed that very directly to the board chair," Willis said.
A week after she expressed her concern, the board chair stood down early. Willis said others could lose their jobs.
KiwiRail has refused to put up anyone in the entire organisation to be interviewed by Newshub.
In a generic statement, board chair David McLean said there was an expectation for KiwiRail to lift its commercial performance and the consultants looked at a transformation of the business.
But the Finance Minister today openly criticised that - questioning why a very well-paid executive wasn't able to do the core business of ensuring it was running efficiently.
And on whether KiwiRail could be staring down a sale, it sounds like the Prime Minister was trying to be careful with his wording because he is in a coalition so can't unilaterally rule something out without taking it to Cabinet.
